I don't know anything about the guy who posted it other than he works for KTRS.

I doubt it's true cuz it makes no sense to test free agency only to sign super quick with the Cards (unless they overwhelm him, god help us). But, Mo's denial means less than nothing. He denies EVERYTHING until they announce it. I don't blame him for it, but it also makes his public denials meaningless.

I think 7 years/$25 mil is in the neighborhood of both perfect and fair. However, I think there's a grey area where it's better to give him a less than ideal contract than to let him walk.

However, I think there's a grey area where it's better to give him a less than ideal contract than to let him walk.

I can't truly comment on that because I don't know how that will effect the rest of the clubs spending.

You already have some bats under contract and if it's going to cost you to be greatly shorthanded in other aspects (pitching and defense) then I'm against it. Actually right now I believe signing an great defensive shortstop that can be a quality lead of hitter will win you more games then Albert (based on the other pieces you already have).

However, if ownership is telling the truth that Albert's contract would in essence 'separate' from the budgeted payroll...then by all means, it's not my money, give it to him.

I pretty much agree with everything you said, especially for 2012. Assuming Berkman is solid again (not a given since he's not getting younger though), Berkman at 1B, Craig in RF and a notable FA signing elsewhere makes us better than Pujols at 1B, Berkman in RF, and Craig on the bench. But, that's also just a 2012 fix and there aren't many notable FA's this year.

The 3 FA SS's are Furcal, Rollins and Reyes. Reyes is the best, but he's super expensive and injury prone. Rollins is EXTREMELY overrated. He's not terrible, but he won't be worth $8.5 mil (which is how much I heard he might get). With or without Pujols, I think I'd like Furcal back for $5 mil or so and maybe some incentives for staying healthy.

Kelly Johnson is the biggest name 2B on the market and I'm not awed by him much. I'd rather put the money to another position and wait for Kulten Wong.

I could see an upgrade in CF, but Coco Crisp and Grady Sizemore seem to be the best available and I'm not real excited about either of them. Sizemore maybe, but he's played something like 108 games in the last 2 seasons, combined.

There's always the idea of getting a few stop gaps and making a splash after next season. But, given the age of Carpenter and Berkman (and how difficult they will be to instantly replace), 2012 could be our best chance to win in the near future. So, I'd rather not wait a year to get a noteworthy FA.

This whole thing makes me sick. I mean, I don't want the Cards to give him an albatross of a deal. But, I don't want him to go to the Marlins either.

And, it's going to be hilarious if Loria ends up in hot water over the deal and they have to dismantle to the team. I don't know hardly anything at all about the SEC investigation, but it's a kind of fun hidden subplot to this.

Ohhhh man....I do not like seeing the Cardinals offer Pujols those numbers. Sheesh.

I was fully okay with him leaving for the Marlins for the 10 year, 220 million dollar deal they reportedly offered him.

Pujols is in a no-win situation here with fans, at least. He leaves for the Marlins, it will take Cards fans a long time to forgive him. His jersey may or may not go up at Busch when he's done, etc. If he does sign with the Cardinals, everything he does will be under a microscope and when we used to marvel at him for everything, no he'll be scrutinized to the max because of the money he's making (think Matt Holliday).

In all honesty, the Cardinals got Pujols at a bargain level in 2004. 7 years, 100 mil for his talent? He deserves to get paid (not that 100 mil isn't getting paid), I don't blame him for following the money.

I don't blame him at all either, I just hope he's cashing those checks in Florida.

That contract would have HUGE ramifications over then foreseeable future. We'll be going on the cheap at every turn.

Tyler Green at SS will be just the start. That money will be differed as well so when Puma leaves, that money will go to Albert's contract, they are unlikely to reinvest that in replacement players. What if you expend all that money and then realize halfway though the year that Jay isn't going to cut it in center field? Too bad....there is no money there to address the problem....not just this year, but for a long long time.

I have very mixed feelings on this, but we'll see. The one comforting thing about it is that I heard they are willing to increase payroll for Pujols. So, it sounds like they have their payroll at $110 mil or so. But, if Pujols signs, they'll up it to $120 or whatever his raise is. If he doesn't sign, they'll reinvest the $15 mil he's making to keep it at ~$110. If the increase isn't exactly coming out of the budget, I guess I'm OK with it.

I have very mixed feelings on this, but we'll see. The one comforting thing about it is that I heard they are willing to increase payroll for Pujols. So, it sounds like they have their payroll at $110 mil or so. But, if Pujols signs, they'll up it to $120 or whatever his raise is. If he doesn't sign, they'll reinvest the $15 mil he's making to keep it at ~$110. If the increase isn't exactly coming out of the budget, I guess I'm OK with it.

There is a BIG problem with everyone's 'simple math' right now. They are going to structure that deal so that the annual pay increases each year. So even if a 'portion' of his contract value in not impacting the payroll completely, that impact will actually increase as his play decreases.

Look at it this way......They are willing to go an additional 5 mill a year now while his salary is say 2o mill that's great, but what about 6 or 7 years from now when he's making 25, 28, or even 30 mill (depending on how it's structured)?

For instance,they will probably structure the deal so that it's back loaded (of course). But what that means is when say Holiday comes off the book, that money is ALREADY spent as it's figured into Albert's pay.

Even if he was 5 years younger, I'd be uncomfortable with a 10 year deal. If it is in fact shorter, and depending on how it's structured...I think it would be neat to see him play his entire career here.

Kurkjian said he's heard 9 years, slightly over $200 mil. If true, the Cards basically upped their offer by a couple mil and no extra years.

The other thing people are forgetting is that $22 mil now will be the equivalent of $37 mil 10 years from now if inflation stays the same. I didn't verify that, but it came from somebody w/ credibility.

Where are you hearing that it will be backloaded? That's certainly possible and has crossed my mind. But, I haven't seen that anywhere.

Where are you hearing that it will be backloaded? That's certainly possible and has crossed my mind. But, I haven't seen that anywhere.

Joe Strauss stated that the original deal was extremely backloaded and assumed this would be the same. Again they want to try and push as much possible past the Puma contract, Carp, and then eventually Holiday.

They also expect additional revenue in those latter years as Albert looks to hit prestigious landmarks.

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